3rd roof a/c unit

[Richard Higley]

We have a 2005 Patriot Thunder and just got back from a weekend in the Keys.  It was very hot and the 2 a/c units could not keep the coach cool enough. The bedroom was fine but the main living area was HOT.  Both units are blowing cold air. We want to add a 3rd roof a/c unit. Want to know how big and expensive of a job this is going to be.  Anybody done this to their coach?

[Jerry Carr]

 Richard I think this 3rd unit could be a problem I doubt that you have enough electrical in your main service, if you upgrade the main 120V electrical I think you would need to fully rewire the rig. For us a better option is to hit the road!

[Bill Sprague]

.....  Anybody done this to their coach?

I've never seen anyone try it.  I think the cost and mess of enlarging the ducting might make it impossible.  That said, call Alliance in Wildwood, FL and ask!

[Edward Buker]

You can get marginally more cooling with a 15000BTU unit over our current 13500BTU units but I am not sure how much effort it would take to rebrand the roof top units. I think the best bet is to work on the other side of the equation, that being heat load. The windows are our biggest heat load and insulated panels with foil reflectors may be a necessary evil in the worst of conditions. The front windshield would probably bring the most bang for the buck. I owned a boat with a large windshield and simply could not cool that boat in hot weather with a standard exterior Sunbrella windshield cover. I had a cover sewn with two layers of Sunbrella and sandwiched in the center was a space age foil and mesh insulator fabric. The foil faced outward and it worked great. Huge reduction in heat load and I could maintain a good comfort level in hot weather. How many of these panels you would need would depend on your heat load, but snapping a few on may keep you from baking. This website has one such reflective fabric that could be sewn into a panel. There may be other better choices, not sure.

http://www.radiantbarrier.com/temptrol.htm

This is a lot less money then rooftop air addition and you would only put them up when needed for a few days...

Later Ed

[Richard Higley]

Thanks to all of you for your input. I'm  headed to Alliance on Wednesday for some other issues and will find out what they have to say.  Hopefully I can rectify the problem without a third unit. Want to keep simple but stay cool as well.

[Ken Sair]

I just checked on that situation today for our 07 Contessa. I spoke with Jim at RV Outfitters in Bend OR. This info is for our coach. Others may be different.

We can add a 3rd A/C in the place of a fantastic fan/vent in the kitchen. It will cost approx $600 and the total was $1200 with labor. It was a stand alone unit with controls on the unit itself and is not ducted with the other two. 2nd option was to ad the 3rd in the same place but have it ducted with the existing two. This was more complicated and the estimate was $2,000 because of mounting and wiring differences.

Ken Sair

[Dennis Evans]

There is a recent thread on another forum with a picture of a third unit installed on a Holiday Rambler.  See http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27021052/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm